World Nov 11 India’s poor find themselves even more desperate amid the pandemic economy India ranks second only to the U.S. in total COVID-19 cases. Although there has been a decline in infections recently, officials worry the onset of winter could bring new surges. Another concern is the economy, the world’s fifth largest, which…
World Feb 11 India’s effort to clean up sacred but polluted Ganga River The Ganga River, known as the Ganges under British rule, is one of the most revered waterways in the world -- and also among the most polluted. Stretching from the Himalayan foothills to the Bay of Bengal, it provides water…
World Jan 14 Water-stressed cities in India turn to innovation for a safe, stable supply Half the population of India lives in areas where water resources are highly stressed. In the coastal city of Chennai, rapid economic development and a population boom have jeopardized supplies of freshwater, prompting officials to rely on desalination of the…
Agents for Change Oct 24 Why Cambodian orphanages house so many children whose parents are still alive The concept of orphanages has long been considered outdated in developed countries. In the developing world, however, these institutions still house hundreds of thousands of children. But the surprising reality is that the parents of most of these children are…
World Sep 18 In Cambodia, sand mining is big business — but it comes at a price Sand mining accounts for 85 percent of all worldwide mineral extraction, a $70 billion industry. In Cambodia, the practice is big business -- but it comes with a price. The country relies upon the Mekong River for commerce and transportation,…
Agents for Change Sep 10 How giant African rats are helping uncover deadly land mines in Cambodia From Angola to the former Yugoslavia, land mines are a lethal legacy of wars over long ago. Cambodia is among the most affected countries, with millions of buried explosives that kill and maim people each year. Now, an organization is…
Agents for Change May 31 How Uganda’s former child soldiers try to heal from the scars of war A community in Lamunu, Uganda, is struggling to return to normal after decades of violent conflict that displaced nearly 2 million people. The Lord’s Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony, abducted 35,000 children and deployed them as soldiers in an…
Agents for Change Apr 19 How a volunteer surgical team in Rwanda chooses which patients to save Rheumatic heart disease develops when strep throat goes untreated. It causes an estimated 275,000 premature deaths per year, mostly youth in developing countries like Rwanda, where antibiotics are rarely available. Surgery is the only treatment option for advanced cases. Special…
Health Apr 16 How drones are delivering lifesaving medical supplies in Rwanda Getting medical supplies to where they are needed fast can mean the difference between life and death outcomes, but moving them efficiently across long distances to remote and rural areas can be difficult for traditional transportation. Special correspondent Fred de…
Science Mar 20 Can Uganda block Ebola’s spread from neighboring Congo? Eastern parts of Democratic Republic of Congo are suffering from the second-worst outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in history, with more than 500 dead so far. Neighboring Uganda is watching with concern as the crisis unfolds, wary of allowing…